With Baited Breath I await my 4200 Spyder

[joered]

My Red 4200 Spyder arrives next week,I Broke the cardinal rule and bought it without viewing in person,but then again its only done 25000 miles so what could go wrong?

Hmm Is that laughter I hear in the background?

They say you should never read through a Medical dictionary as you suddenly start imaging all sorts of ailments.

I am starting to think the same could be applied to the Maserati Forum! I do not even have my car yet, and after reading through other owners problems, am worried what problems will beset me.

I have been told the clutch is 27% worn does that mean I should make some votive offerings to some clutch god?

Until my dream car rolls of the trailer will I have nightmares about reliability? Should I have bought something more reliable like an Alfa?

Please, Please kind Maserati owners reassure me that all will be well, That with the hood down I will drive off into the sunset,wind ruffeling my hair, and a smile on my face!

 

[Mavster]

Congrats Joe

I hope the car is wonderful. If you've done your research on its history, then I'm sure it will be OK. How long has the current owner had it ?

 

[highlander]

more reliable...........like an alfa? you are having a laugh arn't you!
all will be fine, the gods have aligned the V8 stars to ensure the sun shines and the breakdown clouds are banned.........happy motoring

 

[joered]

Hi Thanks for the reply.
Car is 2003 model with a bag full of receipts and a book full of stamps so its been pamperd, but in a way thats not a good thing either.
Car arrived Tuesday so will give inital first impressions!
Joe

 

[philw696]

You will be fine just drive her and enjoy the ride.
I do this kind of thing all the time.
My latest last month a 27yearold Jaguar XJ6 bought blind in Southern Spain which I drove straight back to France where I live 1600 kilometres one of the best trips I've done yet.

 

[allandwf]

Nice one, I don't think, surprisingly, I've ever seen one in red. Looking forward to hearing about it and seeing the pictures.

 

[Tallman]

Congrats - to be on the safe side and for peace of mind, if the last service was a while ago, get it to trusted independent to give it a once over and at least change the oil. Check the age of the tyres, even if they have enough profile, if they are too old they dry out, crack and you’re better off replacing with new rubber. Then enjoy the sound and the spectacle!

 

[joered]

Well as a member of a local car club I have am sights set on a car show next sunday (9th July) at Glamis Castle here in Scotland.
I have a few days to make her look her best and with a bit of luck will be showing the car at Glamis.
I will take all your comments onboard and will post photos.
Joe

 

[allandwf]

Well as a member of a local car club I have am sights set on a car show next sunday (9th July) at Glamis Castle here in Scotland.
I have a few days to make her look her best and with a bit of luck will be showing the car at Glamis.
I will take all your comments onboard and will post photos.
Joe

See you there, Sunday, although I'll probably walk down, very local me! lol
PS I also have two Alfa's!

 

[joered]

See you there, Sunday, although I'll probably walk down, very local me! lol
PS I also have two Alfa's!

Great Allan! look for the Stirling and district car club stand,am surprised with some of the stunners you have you are not on a stand! or are you?

 

[BennyD]

Welcome to the Legion of the Damned. I’ve had my Albatross (4200 Spyder) around my neck for the last 13 years. Whatever future agony you have pictured will pale into insignificance with the sheer cunning of these things to **** you over. However, now we have got the realities dealt with, we can move on to the romance. Get yourself a loud exhaust, the louder the better, Superglue the Sport button in, and cane the **** out of it. The harder you paste the bloody thing, the better she will respond. Don’t worry about the scuttle shake (they all do that Sir), even though she’ll crash about like a dog sh!tt!ng peach stones, you can still make good progress. Don’t worry about her raging thirst (they all do that Sir, they have a problem even rehab can’t fix), and don’t worry about the bills that will hit you like a brick (they all do that Sir). Now you are in the picture you have 2 choices; take the blue pill and cancel the order and delight in the knowledge that you’ve dodged a bullet, or take the red pill and go ahead and enjoy what will turn out to be one of, if not the best car you’ll ever own. I took the red pill and still have her. Enjoy!

 

[Felonious Crud]

^^. Bafflingly, what Benny said.

Welcome, Red Joe (communist tendencies..?), and congratulations. Stunning car in a great colour. Well done!

 

[RoaryRati]

I'm in the red pill camp too and mine has 105k on the clock - just returned from a 3500+ mile jaunt around the Alps - very happy (tho sad to be back)

 

[Andy Marshall]

I've had my Spyder 13+ years. It's actually been very reliable indeed! OK, so I had the heater core go on me, and a couple of suspension bushes were replaced as a precaution, but other than that, at a total of 69k miles (of which I have added 45k) Sophia (for that is her name) has been very reliable, having never failed to start and never having broken down. Multiple trans European trips completed without so much as a blown bulb.
You're going to love being a Maserati owner

 

[joered]

Welcome to the Legion of the Damned. I’ve had my Albatross (4200 Spyder) around my neck for the last 13 years. Whatever future agony you have pictured will pale into insignificance with the sheer cunning of these things to **** you over. However, now we have got the realities dealt with, we can move on to the romance. Get yourself a loud exhaust, the louder the better, Superglue the Sport button in, and cane the **** out of it. The harder you paste the bloody thing, the better she will respond. Don’t worry about the scuttle shake (they all do that Sir), even though she’ll crash about like a dog sh!tt!ng peach stones, you can still make good progress. Don’t worry about her raging thirst (they all do that Sir, they have a problem even rehab can’t fix), and don’t worry about the bills that will hit you like a brick (they all do that Sir). Now you are in the picture you have 2 choices; take the blue pill and cancel the order and delight in the knowledge that you’ve dodged a bullet, or take the red pill and go ahead and enjoy what will turn out to be one of, if not the best car you’ll ever own. I took the red pill and still have her. Enjoy!

Benny I can see you have not only been bitten but have had chunks taken off lol!

The sobbing from my wallet has already started!

Over £500 for transporting, insurance £357, Road tax £395 and its not even sitting in my driveway yet!

I have always though I was well clued up when it came to cars. But I have to admit it was only a few years ago that I was even aware of this particular model. Love at first sight? Call it what you will.

But here is another strange thing I have never actual seen a 4200 Spyder in the Flesh, so to speak.

So this truly will be a learning curve!

 

[joered]

^^. Bafflingly, what Benny said.

Welcome, Red Joe (communist tendencies..?), and congratulations. Stunning car in a great colour. Well done!

Communist and Maserati? I think you call that an oxymoron!

 

[joered]

I'm in the red pill camp too and mine has 105k on the clock - just returned from a 3500+ mile jaunt around the Alps - very happy (tho sad to be back)

Well that is good news as to longevity,it would appear that this car at 25,000 miles is a mere babe in arms!

 

[joered]

have just had an email from the garage I bought it from, car is on its way!
Salesman said in addition to paperwork there is a car cover and 4 new discs, Hmm
One thing i did notice from the photos was the car has the 'sticky buttons' problem will need to look into whats the best way to sort it.

 

[allandwf]

Discs are a very good thing .

 

[Felonious Crud]

Communist and Maserati? I think you call that an oxymoron!

Well, you might very well think that... but it has been known that SM has infiltrators trying to subvert members. Be wary!